Dover Athletic 3 Welling United 1

DOVER produced their best performance of the season when they needed it most as they overwhelmed Welling Utd at the Hoverspeed Stadium last night.

Having started the game in the relegation zone, Clive Walker's men needed to improve dramatically to kick start their season and they were in front after just three minutes when Craig Wilkins reacted quickly in the six yard box to prod home after a Matt Carruthers' corner caused problems.

It was 2-0 in the 13th minute when Lee Spiller chested down a Welling cross on the edge of his own box and threaded a fine 35 yard pass through to the onrushing Carruthers, who timed his run to perfection to take the ball forward and drive it past the advancing Glenn Knight from 20 yards.

It only took two minutes for the visitors to halve the arrears when the Dover defence failed on three separate occasions to clear the ball and Austin Berkley drove the ball home from a tight angle. This then brought doubts into a Dover side that have let leads slip on three separate occasions this season and the Wings sensed they could force an equaliser.

However Danny Chapman, back marshalling the defence, managed to keep the lively Paul Booth at bay with some cool interceptions. The all-important third goal came in the 33rd minute when man of the match Spiller wiggled away from his marker and drove the ball home from 15 yards after the static Welling defence failed to clear their lines.

This goal seemed to fill the Dover side with confidence and Tommy Tyne should have made it four but delayed his shot, while a Tony Browne teasing cross was just too high for Wilkins.

The second half saw constant Dover pressure with the Tyne and Wilkins partnership causing problems, while Spiller was his usual effervescent self in midfield eating up the ground. Chances came and went with Tyne going close on two occasions, while Dean Readings saw his goal bound shot cleared off the line.

If Dover can show this kind of commitment for the rest of the season they should not have a problem securing a place in Conference Two and maybe even play a part in the Championship hunt if they can remove the defensive frailties that occasionally pepper their play.

DOVER: Hyde, Browne, Dyer, Readings, Arnott, Chapman, Patterson, Carruthers (Glover 80), Spiller, Tyne, Wilkins.

Subs not used: Smissen, Cloke, Amadi, Postma.